Fuel feeder



Oct. 9, 1928.

c. A. FLEETWQOD ET AL FUEL FEEDER Filed June 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jwvemtoc CZaude A. FZeel'u/ood W'iZZiam HLyszngeT' C. A. FLEETWOOD ET AL FUEL FEEDER Filed June 4. 1927 2 sheets sheet i mow W Wm m Wadi W I UNITED S A E Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

. v A I 1,687,435-

CLAUDE AROUD' ELEE'rWooD AND WILLIAM- H. LYSINGER, oE'EoR'r DoD E, Iowa-, As-

SIGNORS TO'MCLAUGHLIN coAL REDUCTION COMPAN Y,-F DEcATUR, ILLI1\roIs, A

CORPORATION SOUTH DAKOTA.'

. EUEL FEEDER.

Application filed June 4,

This invention relates to mechanical stoking means and provides an apparatus whereby atomized fuel, suchas coal, may becombined with air and gradual ly fed to the fire box of afurnace in a manner to assure practically perfect combustion free [from smoke and un'consumed gases The invention supplies a mechanism which assures, a positive feed of the atomized coal and a. spreading thereof to produce a mixture which,'. when injectedinto the fire box burns with an intense flame free from the giving off of unconsumed particles, thereby conserving fuel and obviating smoke and the waste of gases.

The invention contemplates an apparatus including a hopperfor containing a quantity of the atomized coal, an agitator for insuring a positive feeding of the fuel,a cutoff for regulating the discharge of the fuel, a

- mixing chamber, means for delivering the atomized coal to the mixing chamber in a spread-out condition, means for circulating a regulatedamount of air through the mixing chamber to combine with the atomized coal, and means for forcing the fuel mixture into the air box of a furnace, allas will appear more fully in the subjoined description. 1

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof. i

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had toth'e following description and the drawings hereto attached in which,.

Figure 1 is a front view of a fuel feeding mechanism embodying the invention.

isa'z I Serial No. 196,525.

nated in the several views-of thedrawings by like reference characters. The apparatus includes a hopper 1 for containing the atomized coal in bulk. QThe lower portion ,of. the hopper 1 {tapers and connects with a box 2, the'walls'of which in cline in, opposite directions, as shown I most clearly in Figure 4. A discharge opening Bis formed in the bottom of the box 2 and is controlled bymeans of a cutofllet which is adjusted by means of a screwb. i The delivery opening. 3 terminates a 7 short distance from the end walls of the .box' 2, thereby opening. An agitator. is located within the bottom portion of the box 2, and comprises a shaft 7, a drum 8, and'teeth 9;studding; the drum. The shaft. 7 is mounted bearings at opposite ends'of the :box 2.' .A ,short spiral or helical .flightlO is provided at each endlof the drum 8 and'serves to move the fuel from the ledges 6 towards the discharge opening3. A pulley 11fastto an end of theshaft 7 is connected bymeansof adrive t.:. ;w pul ey a om shaf 12 an electric motor 13. The agitator is driven at a relatively slowspeed.

j The numeral 14 ,desi'gnatesamixing chamber which is extended at each end to form in effect a pipe through which air is positively circulated. A cut off 15 at the receiving end of the'pipe regulates the admission of air thereto. The casingof a fan blower 16 is connected to an extension of the mixing chamber 14 and is driven by means of the leaving a ledge 6 at eachend ofthedischarge I motor 13. A nozzle 17' connected with the opening or slot 19is formed in the top side of the mixingchamber'14 and has a spiral orhelical arrangement, whereby to deliver the atomized coal into the mixing chamber 7 in a spread out condition to insure every. part beingsubjected to the current of air flowing through the. mixing chamber, with the result that the air and atomized fuel are in the spout 18 connect at their upper edges thoroughly mixed. Plates 20 disposed withwith the sides of the spout and are partly twisted towards their lower ends to conform 19, so as to direct the atomized coal through the opening 19 without offering any part for the fuel to lodge upon.

In the practical operation of the invention the atomized coal is supplied to the hopper 1', and the cut-offs 4i and 15 areadjusted to regulate the discharge of the fuel and supply of air. lVhen the motor 3 is running the agitator and the fan blower are driven, thereby assuring a positive discharge of fuel and a supply of air to mix with the fuel, the mixture being drawn into the blower and forced thereby through the nozzle 17 into the fire box, not shown, where combustion takes place, as will be readily understood. The.

nozzle 17 may be arranged in any convenient position best adapted to location and conditions.

Having thus described the invention, We claim:

1. In a fuel feeder, a mixing chamber having a helically arranged opening in a side for the introduction of atomized coal into the mixing chamber, and means for circulating air through the mixing chamber to combine with the atomized coal to' produce a fuel mixture.

2. In a fuel feeder, a mixing chamber,a hopper having a discharge opening in its bottom and a ledge at each end of the discharge opening, and an agitator within the bottom portion of the hopper and comprising a rotary member having projecting elements to insure a positive discharge of the material from the hopper and having helical flights to operate over the said ledges and prevent the accumulation of the material thereon.

3. A fuel feeder comprising a hopper, a rotaryagitator within the bottom of the hopper, a mixing chamber having a helical opening in a mole, plates spread apart at their upper ends and graduallytwisted' towards their lower ends which connect with oppositesides of thehelrcal opening inthe slde of the mixlng chamber, and means for circulating air through the. mixing chamber for combining with the atomized coal to 1 produce a fuel mixture.

4. A fuel feeder comprising a hopper, an

agitator in the bottom thereof, a mixing chamber having ahelical opening in a side, plates connecting at their lower GIlClS Wlllll opposite sides of the helical opening and gradually flaring towards their upper ends,

and twisted throughout their length, a cutoff for regulating. theydischarge from the hopper, a cut-off for regulating the adimssion ofalr to the mlxmgfchamber, and

means for circulating air through the mix-.

ing chamber tocombine with the fuel;

5 In fuel feeder, a hopper, a rotary agt,

tator in the bottom thereof, a mixing cham'- ber having ahelicalopening in a side thereof, a spout between the hopper and mixing chamber, plates within the spout having their upper ends in contact with opposite'walls of the spout and their lower ends conforming to and in contact with opposite sides of the said helical opening, said plates being twisted throughout their length, and a fan' blower for positively cir- CLAUDE AROUD FLEETWOOD. [L.'S.] WILLIAM H. LYSINGER. '[L. 8.1 

